Police break up huge University of Victoria party amid COVID-19 concerns

As the new school year kicks off, large parties have already become a concern as the COVID-19 pandemic continues on. 

Following a sprawling frat party that RCMP had to shut down at UBC last week, another university party has taken place at a different B.C. campus. 

On Vancouver Island, several hundred students were reported to have gathered outdoors near housing at the University of Victoria (UVic) on September 5, according to a UVic statement issued on August 6. The crowd is believed to have included non-UVic students and people from off campus, and many individuals remained unmasked.

CHEK News reported that Saanich Police estimated approximately 1,000 people were in attendance and that police had to disperse the crowd that had assembled. 

UVic Campus Security patrols, assisted by Saanich Police, conducted 50 pour-outs of liquor and ticketed two people for underage drinking.

There weren’t any reports of property damage. 

In a statement, UVic Student Affairs associate vice-president Jim Dundson urged students “to act responsibly and not gather in large numbers on campus property for parties” and to avoid jeopardizing the start of the school year for everyone involved, including other students, faculty, and staff.

“By holding or attending large, unstructured parties, students increase the risk of COVID-19 transmission,” Dundson stated. “Their behaviour is unacceptable and puts at risk students, our employees, our instructors and our local community.”

Previously on August 29, UBC RCMP were called to a party at Fraternity Village, where several hundreds of people had gathered both outdoors and inside residences, without any masks or physical distancing. Officers issued $5,000 in fines for violating provincial public health orders. 

In response, UBC announced it would hold a mandatory training session (along with RCMP and Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services) for all fraternity and sorority presidents.

Prior to the Labour Day long weekend, North Vancouver RCMP had issued a warning on September 2 to Grade 12 students, who participate in an annual Grad Sleepout on the North Shore, to take precautions due to extreme fire risks in addition to COVID-19.